Quite confused about replies to my sharer advert!

Thi need to take your would-be sharers' ideas of their competence with a large pinch of salt.

I have been watching with horrified fascination the applicants to hack one of my liveries' pony - a cracking underemployed Welsh Section C, bombproof on the roads but a hot little number on grass.

Everyone did dressage, had ridden x number of years, schooled, called themselves very experienced. It was a nightmare, though funny at times. None of them could ride in a pelham (which is what she goes best in). Two claimed to have ridden for 6+ years - one had NEVER ridden outside a school, the other couldn't do a rising trot. Two were clearly incapable of tacking up or being around more than one horse at a time.

Be very careful who you choose for your lovely Icelandic. I've only known one, and he was delightful - and opportunistic. Your new found shsrarer could be taken for a ride in the most literal sense. I know Icelandics are classed as horses, but there's a good little pony brain in there too....
 
I also advertised for someone to ride one of mine a few years ago, i had a girl out to see my lad, she could talk the talk, had done dressage, show jumping, & had even evented, so imagine my surprise when she asks me to lead her out on him when she rode him (i put it down to nerves at first)! She then asked to come back to try him again, me being me gave her the benefit of the doubt & let her, but i did say if she wants to come back she will have to ride him & im not leading her....well cue one girl ditched into the hedge & my horse buggering off down the road. She should have been honest about her ability, it would have saved both our times & saved her being ditched into a hedge.
Ive actually just advertised again for someone to come & ride out with me, i had to laugh with one of the people that messaged me, she hadnt really done any riding but knew the principal behind it....i had visions of her referring to a book as she was riding along lol.
 
I've shared everything from an Intermediate eventer to hunting a cob with no brakes to an elderly artheritic ex showjumper that I could only plod around the lanes on. It was just what happened to come along and was convenient at the time. Riding is riding is riding and beggars can't always be choosers. Although given the choice I do actually prefer smaller horses if only because I can get on from the ground.

It is tough being a sharer I always err on the side of caution describing my 20yrs+ riding experience and as a result I probably under sell myself. My instructor is slowly pounding into me that I am a perfectly competent rider. I would love to have the opportunity to compete/hunt but those sorts of share arrangements rarely come up and when they do I'm always worried I'm not good enough to apply for them so I end up not calling up.
 
Hobbitpony said:
I've shared everything from an Intermediate eventer to hunting a cob with no brakes to an elderly artheritic ex showjumper that I could only plod around the lanes on. It was just what happened to come along and was convenient at the time. Riding is riding is riding and beggars can't always be choosers. Although given the choice I do actually prefer smaller horses if only because I can get on from the ground.

It is tough being a sharer I always err on the side of caution describing my 20yrs+ riding experience and as a result I probably under sell myself. My instructor is slowly pounding into me that I am a perfectly competent rider. I would love to have the opportunity to compete/hunt but those sorts of share arrangements rarely come up and when they do I'm always worried I'm not good enough to apply for them so I end up not calling up.
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Where are you?
 
GeeGeeBoy please keep us up to date as to what all your respondents are like ...... I bet there are some real shockers in their and the effort needed to find the gem will be fun?!

Anyway, I would love to know whether all the people are all that they say, but hopefully among that lot wll be someone you like, who is reliable and honest, can ride to your satisfaction and at times to suit you. Thats quite a list to fulfil.
 
Yeah, I know what people can be like. I used to be a trek leader and some of the "experienced" Trekkers couldn't even trot!! I've never understood why people lie though, they're always going to get found out and are putting them selves at great risk!
 
Gumtree is often used by foreigners and young people, it could well be that some of these are experienced riders from overseas who have come here to work or study who would like to do some riding. Alternatively there may be people who had to sell their horses when they went to university and can't afford to buy now due to student debt or not having a well paid job.

There are very few competition horses for share so and really keen riders will be desperate just to ride anything even if it not a big horse.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
I think you'll have to have a real good look at the replies. Some of them appear to be far too qualified & some will be over stating what their ability actually is? so I would probably put those to one side.
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The demographic of sharers is a little wider than ex-owners or people making the transition from RS to ownership. Not that anyone reading many of the threads on this subject would believe that. If I look for another share I'll make sure to say that I'm a numpty who requires constant supervision, lest I am cast aside as an obvious liar :rolleyes:
 
Are they actually telling the truth?
I've head many times and experienced myself.
People lie and exaggerate their experience.
Have a good conversation with them. Test them with questions

Then get the ones that pass that test out to meet you and horse and test them again!

Good luck!
 
I had a similar experience when advertising for a sharer. Admittedly I did advertise at the local vet uni, but I had about 25 responses within a few days and the standard of riding ranged from competent hacker to excellent. Didn't get any numpties at all.
In the end, my brain nearly imploded trying to remember who was riding which horse and when. Finally settled on one rider who was an absolute godsend.
 
Crugeran Celt said:
Unfortunately even with your own transport I think South West Wales is a bit far to drive to hack out my cob!:D
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If you looking for someone to ride for you put an ad on Facebook, ive had loads of replies to my wanted Ad on there (& im a similar area to you), ive already met with 2 ladies who are interested in riding for me & im meeting another today & ive got another 3 or 4 who want to come over for a chat once the kids are back in school, so im hoping that between everyone whose replied i will be able to find a couple of halfway decent riders & get the horses ridden everyday :)
 
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